Top Takeaways from the iOLAP Academy

Ever wondered what it takes to turn a passion for IT into a thriving career?

Look no further than the iOLAP Academy. We caught up with two former participants, Igor and Iva, who went from learning the ropes to landing their dream jobs in record time. Here’s what they had to say about their journey through the Academy and the top takeaways that set them up for success.

What specific skills or knowledge did you gain during the Academy? 

Igor: I learned a lot about AWS Cloud and utilized several key services during the Academy, such as S3, AWS Lambda, AWS Athena, AWS Redshift, and AWS Glue. These formed the backbone of our ETL process. The hands-on experience was invaluable because it wasn’t just a theoretical exercise, it mirrored real scenarios, which was crucial for my future career.

Iva: During the Academy, I had the opportunity to work on a data engineering project from start to finish with other participants. This experience provided me with a comprehensive understanding of what data engineering is and how it works. I also upgraded my Python and SQL knowledge.

What challenges did you overcome, and how did they contribute to your growth? 

Igor: The biggest challenge was learning all the services that AWS offers. There were a lot of them, and they are interconnected. These connections make it hard to understand what is happening in the beginning, but at some point, you get the full picture. Just going through that process gave me a lot of knowledge and confidence that contributed to my growth as a developer.

Iva: Since I didn't come from a data background and had no prior experience with data engineering, starting from scratch was a bit challenging. However, because the program is very well structured, I was soon able to acquire solid and practical knowledge which made the rest of the Academy fun and enjoyable.

How has the Academy helped shape your career path?

Igor: The Academy played a pivotal role in shaping my career path. Securing a job at iOLAP immediately after the Academy was a highlight. Now I am working in the AI team and developing really cool and fun stuff. I couldn’t be happier with how it all turned out for me!

Iva: The Academy offers knowledge in data engineering and data analytics, allowing participants to become familiar with a broader spectrum of the data world. Since I was particularly drawn to data analytics, it gave me the opportunity to turn my career in that direction. After the Academy, most of us received job offers, which enabled us to continue our career journey as iOLAP employees.

Do you apply the knowledge acquired from the Academy? 

Igor: Absolutely. Understanding AWS Cloud and its services makes my work easier in navigating through it and learning new things.

Iva: I acquired a lot of practical knowledge in SQL and Power BI that I still use in my daily work.

What advice would you give to someone considering joining the Academy?

Igor: Stop considering and join right away!

You will be tired some days, but you'll meet like-minded individuals, and gain invaluable insights into future technologies that have real-life applications. Also, you will be guided by mentors who are experts in their field. The Academy offers growth opportunities and your level of commitment determines how much you will gain from it. Trust me, the effort is worth it, especially on those challenging days.

Iva: Don’t hesitate, apply and enjoy the process! It’s a fantastic chance to acquire hands-on experience, expand your knowledge, work on exciting projects, and build new connections.

Reflecting on the insights from Igor and Iva, it's evident this program goes beyond theory -it's about practical skills that drive success. The iOLAP Academy might just be your launchpad to a rewarding career journey!

Don't miss this opportunity, submit your application, and see you at the iOLAP Academy!